Loose-leaf binder.



G. A. OLSEN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPUCA'HON FILED FEB. 24. 1913. RENEWED MAY 26. I9l5.

1,M5,432@ Patented July 6, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

GEORGE A. OLSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO SI-IIPIPING & RECEIPT BOOK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. 1

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed February 24, 1913, Serial No. 750,128. Renewed May 26, 1915. Serial No. 30,674.

T 0 all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. OLSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices knows as loose leaf binders, and comprises a means associated with the clamping plate of the device for binding or looking against the impaling posts of the binder. Such locking devices are usually mounted upon the top of the clamping plate, and the mechanisms have assumed many different forms, many of which are complicated and expensive to manufacture, and, in instances wherein a number of parts are used, are likely to get out of order or break, rendering the binder useless until repaired.

It is an object of this invention to afford an exceedingly strong locking mechanism, by use of which the clamping plate may be rigidly looked upon the impaling post and iirmly held until intentionally released by the operator. 7

It is also an object of this invention to afford a one piece slidable actuating member adapted to move both of the locking means into release or looking position simultaneously and retain the same therein. v

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a device in which the looking mechanisms comprise pivoted members, one for each impaling post and suitably controlled by a single actuating element.

It is finally an object of this invention to simplify the construction to the utmost, and to provide an effective and practically nonbreakable device, by the use of which the clamping plate is rigidly locked to the impaling post.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a binder equipped with a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof partly in section. Fig. 3 is a central Vertical longitudinalv section taken through the clamping plate. Fig. 4 is a central horizontal section taken through the clamping plate, with the locking elements omitted and the actuating element shown in plan view. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing in detail the relation of the actuating element and one of the locking elements in release position. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken through the clamping plate showing one of the locking elements in plan view, and with the actuating element omitted.

As shown in the drawings, the clamping plate comprises a hollow casing 1, which may be integrally formed or otherwise constructed the top and bottom walls thereof are provided with alined apertures to receive the impaling posts 2 therethrough, which are suitably mounted upon the binding plate 3. A locking element 4:, is disposed in each end of said clamping casing and is provided with an aperture, which, when said element is in release position, is in alinernent with the aforementioned alined apertures in the casing. Said locking element is provided at one of it'sedges with a down turned flange 5, which is suitably recessed along its lower edge to afford the projecting tongues or fingers 6, which project into apertures in the bottom of said casing to afford a pivotal and detachable mounting for the locking element and serve to prevent displacement thereof. The upper face of the element 4, or that opposite the downturned flange 5, has secured thereon the spring members 7, which bear against the upper wall of the casing to impel the locking elements downwardly with the tongues thereof in engagement with the apertures in the bottom of the casing. A slidable actuating member or plate 8, is mounted in the casing 1, and is centrally offset as shown at 9, to provide an attaching face for the leaf spring 10, which bears upwardly against the upper wall of the casing 1,su ch that the actuating button 11, rigidly secured on the portion 9, is held downwardly in close contact with the top sides of the slot in the casing 1, through which the button extends. The spring 10, thus acts as a friction locking means for preventing accidental displacement of said actuating member 8, and also affords a resilient connection between the same and the casing 1, to prevent the occurrence of a possible loose connection, which is of course undesirable.

As shown, the extremities of the actuating member 8, are recessed to afford the yoke or forked spring members 12, which are disposed on either side of the apertures in the casing 1. The spring members 12, at one end of the member 8, are provided at their extremities with the angled, indented, or

cam portions 13, While the members 12, at the other end of the plate 8, are provided with similarly angled cam portions 14, although in the latter case the portions 14, are not disposed at the extremities of the spring members 12. The reason for this is obvious by reference to Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the locking members are in looking position, and, due to the fact that they face the same and are adapted to move in the same direction in their pivotal movement, inasmuch as the respective portions 13 and 14, move away from beneath the elements 4, when unlocking the device, the cam portions 13 and 14, are so disposed as to insure a portion of the members 12, engaging beneath the locking elements. To facilitate engagement, the portions 13 and 14, are inclined so that when the same are returned beneath the locking members into locking po sition, the locking elements will be moved into position easily and gradually. Of course the binding plate and the clamping plate are suitably engaged to the binder by means of the cloth or fabric 15, which is secured there-- around and forms a part of the covers of the binder.

The operation is as follows: The device, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is in looking position, that is to say the angled portions 13 and 14, respectively, are engaged beneath the extremities of the locking members 4, thereby tilting the same upwardly, which causes the edges of the apertures therein to bind or grip on the impaling posts. When it is desired to unlock the clamping plate the actuating button 11, is moved to the left, whereupon, as shown in Fig. 6, the angled portion 13, moves away from beneath the element 4, and the spring 7, thereon, serves to impel the same downwardly, and it is limited in its movement to a substantially horizontal position by the yoke members 12, of the plate 8, and, when in such a parallel position with the casing, will permit the impaling posts to slide freely therethrough.

The portions 13, and 14, of the actuating member are inclined only to an extent which will permit easy operation of the locking members, and the amplitude of movement required to effect the looking or release of the device through the movement of the ele ment 8, is dependent upon the length of the inclined cam portions to effect the movement of the locking elements from one of said positions to the other.

Although I have referred to the various elements of this device as being disposed in various horizontal and vertical positions, it is obvious that such description is only to more clearly point out the relation of the parts in the particular embodiment of the invention herein shown, and I am aware that the relation of the elements and details of construction may be varied to a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described a clamping plate, locking elements pivotally mounted thereon adapted to lock against impaling posts inserted through said plate, springs secured on said locking elements and normally impelling the same into release position, and a slidable actuating member adapted to engage beneath said locking elements to move the same into locking position.

2. In a device of the class described a clamping plate, movably mounted locking elements thereon to bind against impaling posts inserted through the plate, a resilient slidably mounted actuating element on said clamping plate, cams thereon adapted to engage beneath said locking elements to move the same into locking position, and resilient means for impelling said locking elements into release position with the withdrawal of said cams.

3. In a device of the class described an apertured clamping plate adapted to receive impaling posts inserted therethrough, spring impelled locking elements thereon to engage said posts, projections on said locking elements engaging in apertures in the clamping plate affording a detachable pivotal connection between said locking member and the clamping plate, and a sliding element adapted to move said locking elements into looking position.

4. In a device of the class described movably mounted locking members adapted to lock against the impaling posts of a binder, springs secured on said locking members and bearing against a casing to normally impel the locking members into release position, and a resilient slidable plate slotted at its ends adapted to impel said members into locking position, said plate adapted to limit the movement of said locking members into release position.

5. In a device of the class described an apertured binding plate adapted to receive impaling posts therethrough, rocker locking members releasably engaged in apertures in said plate, a resilient slidable actuating means slotted at its ends to engage around impaling posts inserted through the plate, and indented portions on the end of said means adapted to engage beneath said locking members to move the same into locking position When said actuating means is operated.

6. In a device of the class described a tubular member, tiltable locking members releasably mounted therein, springs normally impelling the same into release position, and means for impelling the same into locking engagement with the impaling posts inserted through the tubular member.

7. In a device of the class described a slidable actuating member, means limiting the movement thereof, apertured rocker locking members to receive the impaling posts of a binder therethrough and to lock against the same, and means on said actuating member adapted to engage beneath said locking members to move said rocker locking members into locking position When said actuating member is operated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE A. OLSEN.

Witnesses:

LEON M. REIBSTEIN, LAWRENCE RnIBsTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

